Aerosol Generating Device And Capsule

ABSTRACT

There is provided an aerosol generating device and a capsule adapted for use with the aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device includes a cavity positioned on one side of the aerosol generating device. The cavity is configured to host a capsule and the capsule is configured to contain an aerosol generating substance. The capsule includes an external shell arranged to retain an aerosol generating substance and an outlet in the external shell configured to engage with the aerosol generating device when the capsule is retained in the cavity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/575,175, filed on Nov. 17, 2017, which is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2016/060934 filed May 16, 2016, published in English, which claims priority from European Patent Application No. 15168224.2 filed May 19, 2015, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device and a capsule for use with the aerosol generating device.

Aerosol generating devices such as electronic cigarettes are relatively well known and are becoming increasingly popular. The most common operating principle for such electronic cigarettes is to provide a flavoured vapour to a user without burning material. They often comprise an electrically powered heat source and a reservoir of liquid, whereby the vapour is produced by delivering the liquid to the heat source.

Since the liquid is depleted during this process, after a certain amount of use the reservoir is emptied. Accordingly, prior art electronic cigarettes often provide a replaceable cartridge containing the heater and liquid reservoir which may be discarded and replaced when necessary. There are however several on-going problems which such conventional devices.

Firstly, prior art devices often locate the reservoir of aerosol-producing substance inside a removable cartridge such that there is no easy way for a user to determine the amount of aerosol generating substance remaining in the reservoir during use. This may result in continued use of the device after the substance has been depleted, resulting in an unpleasant flavour for the user. It also may result in the cartridge being depleted unexpectedly, at which time it may be difficult for the user to purchase further cartridges to continue use. Therefore there exists a need for a cartridge arrangement which allows for a user to easily determine the amount of aerosol producing substance remaining in the reservoir.

Prior art cartridges are generally configured to screw into one end of the aerosol generating device in order to connect to the battery and other components located in the body. Such an arrangement results in a substantial increase in the dimensions of the device making them large, bulky and awkward to use. The placement of the cartridge at one end of the device also means that this end cannot be utilised for another component such as an opening for a replaceable battery or the mouthpiece.

Some prior art devices seek to solve this problem by providing an aerosol generating device which may be opened to allow replacement of an internal cartridge containing the reservoir. However such an arrangement often requires a cumbersome operation involving the handling of small parts and the exposure of the delicate internal components of the device. Furthermore prior art devices often require that the capsule is screwed into the body, or that components of the body are screwed together after replacement of the internal capsule. After repeated use the screw threads are subject to wear, leading to failure and replacement is required.

There accordingly exists a need for an aerosol generating device and capsule wherein the capsule may be loaded externally in a straightforward operation, without the need to open or unscrew components of the device. There also exists a need for the capsule to remain partially exposed such that a user may gauge the amount of substance remaining in the capsule. Importantly, these benefits must be obtained without the detrimental effect common to prior art external capsules, namely, it must also not substantially increase the dimensions of the device so as to render it cumbersome to use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an aerosol generating device and replaceable capsule that may be replaced in a user-friendly manner that overcomes the problems of the prior art.

According to the present invention there is provided an aerosol generating device and a capsule adapted for use with the aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device comprises: a cavity positioned on one side of the aerosol generating device; wherein the cavity is configured to host a capsule; and the capsule is configured to contain an aerosol generating substance. The capsule comprises an external shell arranged to retain an aerosol generating substance; and an outlet in the external shell configured to engage with the aerosol generating device when the capsule is retained in the cavity.

With the aerosol generating device and capsule according to the present invention it is possible to provide a means of replenishing an aerosol generating substance by replacing a capsule which does not require any disassembly of the device or unscrewing of components with a straightforward and user-friendly procedure. The capsule is loaded externally but does not substantially increase the dimensions of the device, providing a device which is easy to handle in use. The ends of the device are also left free allowing for use with other components of the device such as a mouthpiece and battery. Furthermore, the capsule remains at least partially external to the device allowing the user to gauge the remaining aerosol generating substance contained within. Utilising a capsule which remains at least partially exposed also allows for a greater proportion of the internal volume of the device to be devoted to storing the battery such that the size (and therefore lifetime) of the battery may be increased without impacting on the overall size of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a bottom perspective view of a separate aerosol generating device and capsule according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows am top perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to the present invention with a capsule hosted in the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an example of an aerosol generating device 10 according to the present invention comprises an elongate body 12 with a first 13 and second 14 end. The aerosol generating device further comprises a cavity 11 positioned on an elongate side of the body 12 between the first 13 and second 14 end. FIG. 1 further shows a capsule 20, configured to contain an aerosol generating substance, according to the present invention, also having an elongate body 22 between a first 23 and second 24 end. The shape of the cavity 11 of the aerosol generating device 10 and the shape of the capsule 20 are configured such that the capsule may be inserted into the cavity 11 of the aerosol generating device 10 along a direction 30 approximately parallel with the elongate axis of the body 12. The capsule may then be hosted in the cavity 11 such that it lies closely along an elongate side of the aerosol generating device 10 and does not extend beyond the first 13 or second 14 ends.

In the exemplary aerosol generating device 10 of FIG. 1, the body 12 of the aerosol generating device 10 has a substantially circular or elliptical cross section along a first portion 15 of its length such that, along this portion 15, the device has an approximately cylindrical shape. The second, remaining portion 16 of the body has a reduced cross sectional area of approximately semi-circular shape. The complete shape of the body 12 can thus be approximated by the remaining volume after removing an approximately semi-cylindrical portion 16 from a partial length of a cylinder. An axially aligned cavity 11 is thus formed in the first cylindrical portion 15 of the device by an opening 11 at the interface between these two portions.

The body 22 of the capsule 20 also has an approximately semi-cylindrical shape with a cross section closely matching that of the axially aligned cavity 11 in the aerosol generating device 10 such that the capsule 10 may be inserted along insertion direction 30 and be retained securely in the cavity 11. The lengths of the cavity 11 and capsule 10 may be chosen such that a portion of the capsule may remain exposed, external to the body 12 of the aerosol generating device 10 but also so that the exposed length is less than the distance between the cavity 11 and first end 13 of the device such that no part of the capsule 11 extends past the first end 13 of the device when hosted.

As shown in FIG. 2, this configuration results in the hosted capsule 20 lying closely against the body 12 of the aerosol generating device and therefore the capsule does not substantially extend the dimensions of the device in any one direction. That is, the hosted capsule, although partially external to the body of the aerosol generating device, lies within the volume defined by the length and maximum cross section of the aerosol generating device.

Although an approximately cylindrical shaped assembly has been used to illustrate this concept, it will be clear that any other appropriate shape may be chosen for the body 12 of the aerosol generating device, the capsule 20 and the cavity 11, such that the hosted capsule lies against the body of the aerosol generating device in this way.

A portion 25 of the capsule shell may be constructed from transparent material such that the amount of aerosol generating substance remaining within the capsule may be visually gauged by a user. The transparent portion 25 may also substantially correspond to the portion of the capsule that is exposed when it is hosted in the device, as shown in FIG. 2. In this way, a user may equally visually gauge the remaining aerosol generating substance within the capsule when the capsule is hosted in the cavity of the aerosol generating device. Such an arrangement provides a much more cost effective option than providing transparent windows embedded or engraved in the body of the aerosol generating device itself in order to see through to gauge the remaining liquid contained within.

Since a portion of the capsule 25 is exposed when hosted in the cavity, the capsule 10 may be simply removed by applying a force against the capsule in a direction 40 opposite to the insertion direction. This process may be facilitated by an array of ridges 26 disposed on the outward facing surface of the exposed capsule portion 25 forming a grip to which a lateral force may be applied. This provides a user-friendly capsule removal procedure which may be achieved simply using one hand.

The aerosol generating device may further comprise a retention means (not shown) disposed within the cavity 11, such as a clip mechanism, to further secure the capsule when hosted in the cavity 11. The aerosol generating device may further be provided with a corresponding release means, such as a capsule release button 17, configured to release the retention means such that the capsule may be removed by a user-applied force to the capsule. Alternatively it may be partially ejected by the release of a biased spring component when the button 17 is pressed.

The aerosol generating device may further comprise a mouthpiece 19, an internal heater assembly (not shown), a power source such as a battery occupying part of the first portion of the device 15 and providing power to the heater assembly, a substance transfer means configured to draw an aerosol generating substance to the heater and a heater control means activated by a button 18 on the body of the aerosol generating device.

The substance transfer means may further include an inlet valve at the base of the cavity 11 in fluidic connection to the heater assembly. The inlet valve may be configured to engage an outlet at the end 24 of the capsule 20 when hosted in the cavity 11. Therefore, when a user inserts the capsule 20 into the cavity 11, the outlet of the capsule engages the inlet valve of the substance transfer means, forming a channel between the capsule and heater assembly through which an aerosol generating substance may be drawn. Thus, by drawing on the mouthpiece 13 whilst activating the heater control button 18, the aerosol generating substance is delivered to the activated heater assembly producing an aerosol that may be inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece 13.

The provision of the cavity 11 on the side of the device 20 means that the ends 13, 14 are left free to facilitate use with one or more of the above components. For example, the mouthpiece may be placed at one end 13 and the battery may be replaced through the second end 14, which is not possible in prior art devices in which a cartridge is attached to one of the ends of the device.

The aerosol generating device according to the present invention may further comprise recognition means configured to read capsule type information provided by the capsule when hosted in the cavity. This capsule type information may include the type of aerosol generating substance contained within the capsule and the specific heating parameters (such as temperature and duration of heating) to be used. In this way, the appropriate heating parameters for the specific substance contained in the capsule 20 may be applied by the aerosol generating device 10 to provide an optimally produced aerosol to the user.

The capsule type information may be encoded onto the capsule in the number, size and/or spatial distribution of the gripping ridges 26 provided on the capsule shell. The recognition means of the aerosol generating device may then comprise a pressure sensitive region on an inner surface of the cavity configured to read the number and distribution of ridges 26 and interpret this information to apply the correct heating parameters to the corresponding aerosol generating substance.

Although this is one example, the provision of capsule type information on the capsule and recognition means of the aerosol generating device may be realised in a number of different ways to provide the effect of heating settings adapted to the specific aerosol substance contained within the capsule 20. For example chemical marking such as secure ink could be used instead of encoding the information in the gripping means. Furthermore electromagnetic marking such as RFID, NFC or a barcode may be used which may be read by a corresponding recognition means of the aerosol generating device.

The electromagnetic marking means and corresponding recognition means of the device may also be used to send a message, for example to a user's mobile telephone, to provide information on the remaining substance within the capsule or to inform a user that a non-genuine capsule is being used.

The cavity may further comprise (either as part of the recognition means or via alternative components) means to ensure that only the genuine capsule configured to operate with the aerosol generating device may be accepted by the cavity to function with the device. This feature may take the form of specific internal grooves or thread which are configured to only accept the capsule designed for use with the device. Similarly the electromagnetic marking may include a specific signal provided to the heater assembly to permit it to function only with the designated capsule or for it to function in a basic mode when a non-genuine capsule is inserted.

The heater control button 18 may further be provided with fingerprint recognition means such that the heater assembly is only operable when the correct fingerprint is recognised by the button 18, such that a device may only be used by a designated user.

In a further example of the invention, the heating means are provided in the capsule 20 rather than the aerosol generating device 10 such that an appropriate heating assembly to the specific substance may be provided and the heater may be changed regularly and easily with the capsule 20, rather than the aerosol generating device 10 itself requiring regular maintenance. In such an embodiment, the capsule 20 may further comprise electrical connections, configured to engage with those of the battery within the aerosol generating device. The capsule heater may further take the form of a portion of the capsule constructed from a material configured to react to an inductive or conductive heating. In such an example, when inserted into the cavity, the capsule may be pierced by a needle having an internal channel allowing the vapour, generated in the capsule, to pass from the capsule to the mouthpiece of the aerosol generating device with the substance transfer means adapted to the passage of vapour rather than liquid.

The examples of the present invention described above provide an aerosol generating device 10 and capsule 22 configured for use with the device which overcome several of the problems of prior art devices. In particular the capsule is hosted in a cavity 11 on a side of the device such that the ends 13, 14 are free to accommodate further components of the device such as the mouthpiece 19 and removable battery. Importantly, when hosted, the capsule may remain partially exposed, external to the body of the aerosol generating device 10, without substantially extending the mentions of the aerosol generating device 10. Therefore a user may benefit from the advantages of an exposed capsule 20 such as the ability to easily remove and replace the capsule, the possibility of identifying the remaining substance within the capsule through a transparent external portion and leaving a greater proportion of the inner volume free to host a larger battery. These advantages are achieved without the common adverse effects of an external capsule, namely the extended dimensions of the device resulting in a bulky object which is awkward to use. This is achieved since the hosted capsule is wholly contained within a volume defined by the length and maximum width of the aerosol generating device. 

1. (canceled)
 2. An aerosol generating device comprising: an elongate body having a first end and a second end, and comprising a first portion extending from the second end toward the first end, and a second portion extending from the first end to the first portion, wherein the first portion of the elongate body defines a maximum cross-sectional area of the aerosol generating device, and the second portion of the elongate body defines a cross-sectional area smaller than the maximum cross-sectional area, wherein a space is defined outside of the first and second portions of the elongate body and inside a volume defined by a length of the elongate body from the first end to the second end and the maximum cross-sectional area, the space being configured to accommodate a capsule containing an aerosol generating substance when the capsule is connected to the elongate body.
 3. The aerosol generating device of claim 2, wherein the maximum cross-sectional area of the first portion is circular or elliptical.
 4. The aerosol generating device of claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional area of the second portion is semi-circular or semi-elliptical.
 5. The aerosol generating device of claim 2, wherein the space is located between the first end of the elongate body and an interface between the first and second portions of the elongate body.
 6. The aerosol generating device of claim 2, wherein the second portion defines a flat surface facing the space and configured to face a side surface of the capsule when the capsule is connected to the elongate body.
 7. The aerosol generating device of claim 6, wherein the elongate body includes a hole at the first end, and a channel extending within the second portion of the elongate body from the hole to an outlet of the capsule when the capsule is connected to the elongate body.
 8. A kit comprising: the aerosol generating device of claim 2, and a capsule containing an aerosol generating substance, the capsule being disposed within the space defined outside of the first and second portions of the elongate body and inside the volume defined by the length of the elongate body from the first end to the second end and the maximum cross-sectional area when the capsule is connected to the elongate body.
 9. The kit of claim 8, wherein, when the capsule is connected to the elongate body, a shape of the first portion of the elongate body and of the part of the second portion abutted with the capsule is approximately cylindrical with a substantially circular or elliptical cross section.
 10. The kit of claim 8, wherein the capsule includes a flat side surface between a first end of the capsule and a second end of the capsule, and the second portion of the elongate body defines a flat surface facing the space and configured to face the flat side surface of the capsule when the capsule is connected to the elongate body.
 11. The kit of claim 10, wherein the capsule includes an outlet, and the elongate body includes a hole at the first end, and a channel extending within the second portion of the elongate body from the hole to the outlet of the capsule when the capsule is connected to the elongate body.
 12. The kit of claim 8, wherein the maximum cross-sectional area of the first portion of the elongate body is circular or elliptical, the cross-sectional area of the second portion of the elongate body is semi-circular or semi-elliptical, the capsule has a semi-circular or semi-elliptical cross-section, and the volume is approximately cylindrical with a substantially circular or elliptical cross section, such that the capsule lies within the volume when the capsule is connected to the elongate body.
 13. A capsule, comprising: a shell having a first end, a second end, and a semi-cylindrical shape between the first end and the second end that is formed by a semi-cylindrical surface and a flat side surface; an aerosol generating substance contained within the shell; a heater arranged in the shell and configured to vaporize the aerosol generating substance to generate a vaporized aerosol generating substance; and an outlet provided in the shell such that the vaporized aerosol generating substance is configured to be drawn out through the outlet.
 14. The capsule of claim 13, wherein the first end includes a surface having an edge defined by an edge of the semi-cylindrical surface and an edge of the flat side surface.
 15. The capsule of claim 13, wherein the semi-cylindrical surface extends to the flat side surface.
 16. The capsule of claim 13, wherein the shell includes a transparent portion so as to allow a user to visually gauge an amount of the aerosol generating substance remaining within the capsule through the transparent portion.
 17. A capsule, comprising: a shell having a first end and a second end; an aerosol generating substance contained within the shell; a heater arranged in the shell and configured to vaporize the aerosol generating substance to generate a vaporized aerosol generating substance; electrical connections provided in the shell and configured to connect the heater to a power source; and an outlet provided in the shell such that the vaporized aerosol generating substance is configured to be drawn out through the outlet, wherein the shell includes a transparent portion so as to allow a user to visually gauge an amount of the aerosol generating substance remaining within the capsule through the transparent portion, wherein the transparent portion includes the first end, and wherein the second end, the outlet and the electrical connections are provided in the shell outside of the transparent portion.
 18. The capsule of claim 17, wherein the shell has a flat side surface between the first end and the second end.
 19. The capsule of claim 17, wherein the shell has a semi-cylindrical shape formed by a semi-cylindrical surface and a flat side surface.
 20. The capsule of claim 19, wherein the transparent portion includes a part of the semi-cylindrical surface and/or a part of the flat side surface.
 21. The capsule of claim 17, wherein the transparent portion has an end arranged between the first end and the second end. 